High-throughput multiplexing electrophoretic gel apparatus and related methods

Abstract

A high-throughput multiplexing electrophoretic gel system is disclosed. The system includes a gel casting device which includes an interior, gel casting chamber by which a polymerized gel layer is formed. The polymerized gel layer includes a plurality of integrally formed sample loading wells. The wells are aligned to be simultaneously loaded with samples via an automated microliter multi-pipette sample loader. The sample-loaded gel layer is adapted to undergo immersed horizontal electrophoresis separation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a separation medium for electrophoresis separation, the method comprising the steps of:
 connecting a top portion and a base of a gel casting device so as to place the gel casting device in a closed position, thereby forming at least one loading port;   loading a volume of gel solution through the at least one loading port and into an interior casting chamber of the gel casting device;   positioning the gel casting device in at least one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation;   effectuating polymerization of the gel solution by maintaining the gel casting device in the vertical orientation for a period of approximately sixty minutes, thus forming a polymerized gel layer;   disconnecting the top portion from the base of the gel casting device so as to place the gel casting device in an open position;   removing the polymerized gel layer from the base with a laboratory spatula; and   placing the polymerized gel layer superjacent a support base.   
     
     
         2 . A method for conducting horizontal electrophoresis separation of molecules, the method comprising the steps of:
 removing a polymerized gel layer from a base of a gel casting device via a laboratory spatula;   placing the polymerized gel layer superjacent a support base, such that inlet apertures of sample loading wells of the polymerized gel layer face upward;   seating the support base superjacent a laboratory benchtop or a deck of an automated microliter multi-pipette sample loading mechanism;   inputting desired sample loading parameters into a manual micropipette or the automated microliter multi-pipette sample loading mechanism;   loading SDS-denatured protein samples into the sample loading wells via the manual micropipette or activating the automated microliter multi-pipette sample loading mechanism, thereby enabling simultaneous loading of SDS-denatured protein samples into the sample loading wells, thus providing a sample-loaded polymerized gel layer;   positioning the support base with sample-loaded polymerized gel layer horizontally atop a bottom wall of a horizontal electrophoresis tank;   filling a receptacle of the horizontal electrophoresis tank with a buffer solution to a level sufficient to fully immerse the sample-loaded polymerized gel layer; and   applying an electric field to the buffer solution so that an electric current passes through the buffer solution, and the sample-loaded polymerized gel layer for a period of approximately thirty to forty-five minutes.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing the sample-loaded polymerized gel layer from the support base via the laboratory spatula; and   placing the sample-loaded polymerized gel layer atop an interface of a digital scanning and imaging device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 scanning the sample-loaded polymerized gel layer to detect and identify infrared fluorescence of molecular weight ladder bands; and   producing digital images of the infrared fluorescence of separated molecular weight ladder bands.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polymerized gel layer comprises polyacrylamide gel.